Search

In 'The Immorality of Horror Films' (International Journal of Applied Philosophy 20:2 [2006], 278), Gianluca Di Muzio argues that it is immoral to produce, distribute, or watch so-called 'slasher' or 'gorefest' films. Though I am sympathetic, I don't believe that his arguments warrant his conclusion. In this paper, I will respond to Di Muzio. In particular, I will focus on what I take to be his core argument, which is based on the idea that these films discourage morally appropriate reactions to human suffering. Then I will examine two objections to Di Muzio's position which he himself raises and dismisses, and I will argue that Di Muzio does not adequately refute either of the objections. Finally, I will conclude with some sympathetic remarks, and briefly consider what avenues we might pursue in order to argue for the immorality of at least some horror films.

Though I enjoyed L. Kirk Hagen's article on Derrida ('The Death of Philosophy,' SKEPTIC, Vol. 11, No. 4, 2005), I was disturbed by some implications regarding recent academic philosophy that [...]